IRB 101: Informed Consent

1. IRB 101:Informed Consent Columbia University Medical Center IRB September 22, 2005

2. Objectives • HHS, FDA Regulations, NY State Law Regarding Informed Consent • Waiver of Some or All of the Elements of Informed Consent • Waiver of Documentation of Informed Consent • Consent Form Tips

3. Required Elements of Consent45 CFR 46.116 & 21 CFR 50.24, 25, 27 • A statement that the study involves research, an explanation of the purposes of the research and the expected duration of the subject's participation, a description of the procedures to be followed, and identification of any procedures which are experimental; • A description of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the subject; • A description of any benefits to the subject or to others which may reasonably be expected from the research; • A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures or courses of treatment, if any, that might be advantageous to the subject;

4. Required Elements of Consent (continued) • A statement describing the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records identifying the subject will be maintained; • For research involving more than minimal risk, an explanation as to whether any compensation and an explanation as to whether any medical treatments are available if injury occurs and, if so, what they consist of, or where further information may be obtained; • An explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent questions about the research and research subjects' rights, and whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury to the subject; and • A statement that participation is voluntary, refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and the subject may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled.

5. Additional Elements of Consent, if Appropriate • A statement that the particular treatment or procedure may involve risks to the subject (or to the embryo or fetus, if the subject is or may become pregnant) which are currently unforeseeable; • Anticipated circumstances under which the subject's participation may be terminated by the investigator without regard to the subject's consent; • Any additional costs to the subject that may result from participation in the research; • The consequences of a subject's decision to withdraw from the research and procedures for orderly termination of participation by the subject; • A statement that significant new findings developed during the course of the research which may relate to the subject's willingness to continue participation will be provided to the subject; • The approximate number of subjects involved in the study. • If FDA Regulated, the subject must sign and date the consent form.

6. Waiver of Informed Consent45 CFR 46.116 (d) • 4 Criteria: • The research involves no more than minimal risk to the subjects; • The waiver or alteration will not adversely affect the rights and welfare of the subjects; • The research could not practicably be carried out without the waiver or alteration; and • Whenever appropriate, the subjects will be provided with additional pertinent information after participation.

7. Waiver of Informed Consent • Note: DOES NOT APPLY TO FDA REGULATED RESEARCH • N.Y. State does now allow for waiver of consent in research involving medical experimentation, unless regulated by the U.S. government

8. Waiver of Documentation of Informed Consent45 CFR 46.117(c) • The only record linking the subject and the research would be the consent document and the principal risk would be potential harm resulting from a breach of confidentiality. Each subject will be asked whether the subject wants documentation linking the subject with the research, and the subject's wishes will govern; • The research presents no more than minimal risk of harm to subjects and involves no procedures for which written consent is normally required outside of the research context. Note: DOES NOT APPLY TO FDA REGULATED RESEARCH

9. Genetic Privacy LawN.Y.State Law, Article 7, Section 79-1 • No person shall perform a genetic test on a biological sample taken from an individual without their prior written informed consent • http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/irb/regulations/index.html

10. Consent Form Tips • Always write in the second person (“You will…”) • Use the Consent Form Builder sample texts for the general statements • If you will apply for a Certificate of Confidentiality, include the required language in the consent form in the initial submission • Consent form language should not exceed 6th to 8th grade reading level • Ensure consistent information throughout protocol submission and consent form • Parental permission- if greater than minimal risk, insert 2 parental signature lines • Consider the signature lines before adding them to your consent form • If using more than 1 consent form, title them differently when attaching them to your submission • Review your consent document for typos and errors before submitting • Use the OHRP checklist of consent elements before submitting

11. CUMC IRB WEB SITECONSENT FORM GUIDANCE • www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/irb/policies/index.html